Beautiful. What Christmas reveals symbolically is not simply humility, but a reordering of where meaning descends into the world. The movement is not from ignorance to knowledge, but from abstraction into form. The cave, the child, the ritual are not illustrations of an idea. They are the idea made visible.
That is why the season works even when belief thins. The pattern still speaks. Meaning is not reached by climbing higher, but by allowing the highest to take shape where we already stand.
I appreciate this article. And the notion of humility as the theme of Christmas rings true to me. However, the assertion that we should “strive for endless self-improvement, achievement, and accumulation” seems the opposite of what we should be doing.
Beautiful post, and so timely. The world seems like such an unkind place in so many ways, but it brings peace and joy knowing that there are others looking and seeking for joy, humility, and goodness. Merry Christmas!
Thank you for writing this up. Christianity on the whole is a dual religion in that the Old Testament and New Testament stand in stark contrast to each other. The humble sinners of old were supposed to give way to unconditional lovers of all during the past two millennia. This unconditional love is the expression of eternal light and warmth (the Sun), the rebirth of which at the winter solstice is what we celebrate as the (symbolic) birth of Christ.
God (the creator) gave his only son (the Sun) to this world. God (the giver of light and warmth, the Sun) became incarnate in Christ the Lord. (he embodied unconditional love, and he stood above all as the Sun rules over the world). Christ is crucified at the spring equinox (Easter) just as the path of the Sun is fixed on the cross of the four cardinal points: the two solstices and two equinoxes. Such is the symbolism of Christmas and Christianity.
A great quote and a great supersummary of the Greek [man is eternal because of connection to eternals] and the Christian [man yearns for infinite perfection].
Very true …. thank you. I would add the following:
Christ became man so that we may become adopted sons and daughters of the Almighty God through grace.
The Father adopted us as His children, freed from the bondage of sin and death, transforming our lives from slavery to freedom.
And to confirm that we are His sons and daughters, God sent the Spirit of His Son to reside in our hearts.
God bestowed this gift to us, not because we earned it, but because of His immeasurable love, He desired to reconcile with us and make us a part of His family.
God became an infant so we could become His children.
He lowered Himself into the world so we could enter His world and His family.
Christ took on flesh so we could receive His Spirit.
He made Himself for a little lower than the angels and vulnerable, so that He could destroy our weakness of sin and death.
The MIRACLE of all miracles.
The GIFT of all gifts.
To me this is the true meaning of the Nativity … of the Incarnation.
Reading this was a blessing to me. Merry Christmas!
Beautiful. What Christmas reveals symbolically is not simply humility, but a reordering of where meaning descends into the world. The movement is not from ignorance to knowledge, but from abstraction into form. The cave, the child, the ritual are not illustrations of an idea. They are the idea made visible.
That is why the season works even when belief thins. The pattern still speaks. Meaning is not reached by climbing higher, but by allowing the highest to take shape where we already stand.
Merry Christmas! And thank you for the gift of reading your wonderful Substack!
Merry Christmas! 🙌
Has to be the most disruptive story of all time. Merry Christmas to all.
I appreciate this article. And the notion of humility as the theme of Christmas rings true to me. However, the assertion that we should “strive for endless self-improvement, achievement, and accumulation” seems the opposite of what we should be doing.
Beautiful post, and so timely. The world seems like such an unkind place in so many ways, but it brings peace and joy knowing that there are others looking and seeking for joy, humility, and goodness. Merry Christmas!
Beautiful, and so very timely. Thank you, and blessings!
AMEN!!!
XXX OOO
Thank you for writing this up. Christianity on the whole is a dual religion in that the Old Testament and New Testament stand in stark contrast to each other. The humble sinners of old were supposed to give way to unconditional lovers of all during the past two millennia. This unconditional love is the expression of eternal light and warmth (the Sun), the rebirth of which at the winter solstice is what we celebrate as the (symbolic) birth of Christ.
God (the creator) gave his only son (the Sun) to this world. God (the giver of light and warmth, the Sun) became incarnate in Christ the Lord. (he embodied unconditional love, and he stood above all as the Sun rules over the world). Christ is crucified at the spring equinox (Easter) just as the path of the Sun is fixed on the cross of the four cardinal points: the two solstices and two equinoxes. Such is the symbolism of Christmas and Christianity.
"Humans are infinity seeking creatures."
A great quote and a great supersummary of the Greek [man is eternal because of connection to eternals] and the Christian [man yearns for infinite perfection].
Merry Christmas!
What beautiful sentiments.
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
so beautiful. i miss my grandma. thank you for this
Lovely post, thank you. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas.
Very true …. thank you. I would add the following:
Christ became man so that we may become adopted sons and daughters of the Almighty God through grace.
The Father adopted us as His children, freed from the bondage of sin and death, transforming our lives from slavery to freedom.
And to confirm that we are His sons and daughters, God sent the Spirit of His Son to reside in our hearts.
God bestowed this gift to us, not because we earned it, but because of His immeasurable love, He desired to reconcile with us and make us a part of His family.
God became an infant so we could become His children.
He lowered Himself into the world so we could enter His world and His family.
Christ took on flesh so we could receive His Spirit.
He made Himself for a little lower than the angels and vulnerable, so that He could destroy our weakness of sin and death.
The MIRACLE of all miracles.
The GIFT of all gifts.
To me this is the true meaning of the Nativity … of the Incarnation.
ALL HOLIDAYS ARE IN FACT CREATED FOR INVERSION AND TRAPPING CIVILIZATION IN A SYNCED RITUAL FOR DETRIMENT